Norman here with some {imitating Ed Sullivan} reeelly, reeelly big news. Mum has been dizzily working on a project that I’m happy to share with you now. Last August a group of committed volunteers who had worked in various capacities with the Old English Sheepdog rescue from where I came [you can read about my story here] got together once it became apparent that old rescue was going close. They realized there was still a need to help dogs like me and decided then and there to form their own sheepdog rescue. Enter…{trumpets blowing} the all new organization, Rocky Mountain Old English Sheepdog Rescue.
While there are no dogs in the new rescue yet (we’re still setting up infrastructure, getting insurance, obtaining bookkeeping assistance, writing policies, etc. that are still being formulated), but the website has gone live, though there will be limited activity until we’re further along while things are getting set up. Mum said they’re taking it one day at a time and are doing everything by the book. It took some effort just getting the non-profit status approved with the IRS but it’s official now and allows the rescue to set up and participate in fundraising events. But I’m very chuffed there will still be a place where sheepies like me will get a second chance at a fur-ever home.
We hope you’ll send us ‘pawsitive’ thoughts as we continue to move forward for all the red tape required. Who knew there was so much involved with creating a dog rescue?
In other news, after much deliberation, Mum shuttered her e-commerce shop over the weekend. The amount of work (and expense) to maintain it wasn’t even close to making it profitable to justify maintaining it. She has decided to just make cards for friends and family and no longer will offer them or (dog related items) for sale in the e-shop. It wasn’t an easy decision to come to but after careful consideration, Mum realized it makes sense. She wanted me to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported the shop over the years and also to those who provided encouragement. We feel truly blessed for your kindness and generous support.
And with those announcements, we hope you have a truly pawsome week.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Everyday life is a big news
Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment. We 💙 visitors.
Wishing you all the best with this new venture.
Thank you for your well wishes.
Your mom is amazing. Kuddos to her and her group for doing this. XO
Aww, you’re very kind. Thank you! She’s very excited-we had two fundraisers this week and did real well.
That is awesome! Kudos to your mom for her hard work! She is an angel to dogs who need homes! <3 Wishing all the best with the project! Going to make a lot of happy hearts in dogs and people alike!
Many thanks. Mum has some pawsome collaborators who love the breed (and have greater skills to bring to the rescue’s success). 😉
Yay for them as well! When working together amazing things can be accomplished. 🥰
I am glad the rescue group has a new beginning! Congratulations!
Many thanks. Now the real work begins!
Lulu: “Hooray for the new rescue! It’s wonderful how dedicated your mom is to helping us dogs!”
Java Bean: “We’re sorry the e-shop didn’t turn a profit but we know she’ll be redirecting all that energy in a great new direction!”
Thank guys. Mum think’s everything is gonna turn out just fine.
Your fur-iends,
Norman & Elsa 🐾
Congratulations on closing the shop and opening the rescue. Good luck with all of it. Sounds like you’re taking it slow and doing it all by the book. #pawsup
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Thank you. Baby steps seem the best way to go to ensure we’re doing it right.
Concatss on THE Rocky Mountain Olde English Sheepdog Rescue!!! Furabuluss newss Sweet Norman an Elsa an Miss Monika!!! Yore all so pawsum!
An Miss Monika wee are sorry you had to close e-Store butt wee due understand! If it issn’t bringin inn THE $cash$ iss time to go. Plus Rescue will keep you busy once it iss open!
Wee are so happy fore efurryone there!!!
Happy <3 Valentine'ss Day <3 deer frendss!!
***nose kissess*** to Sweet Norman an ***purrss*** to you Elsa an Miss Monika BellaDharma
an {{{hugsss}}} an <3 <3 <3 BellaSita Mum
Many thanks for your support and well wishes. We’re so chuffed about the news and looking forward to making a difference in the lives of other sweet dogs like Norman. 💙💙💙
Congratulations and tons of pawsitive thoughts for the new(revamped) rescue!!!
Thanks for your well wishes and pawsitive thoughts. We’re so grateful for everyone’s support.
Thank you for your well wishes, Mike! We hope to see that service making a difference in the lives of deserving sheepie dogs throughout the area.
What wonderful news about the new Rescue!!! Absolutely fabulous for your community. As for closing your shop – it is a lot of work to maintain and publicize……we had a Cafepress store for a while but it was a pain in the neck – who needs that??!! Hugs for Valentine’s Day!
Love, Teddy
Thank you! Closing the shop should have happened done ages ago because it was never profitable but I enjoyed creating those cards for folks. Will still create greeting cards, just won’t offer them here on WP.
How wonderful! Sending the most positive vibes!
Thank you so much, Teresa. We appreciate your good wishes.
Wonderful! Absolutely fabulous news. Thank you for all you and everyone is doing for the pups.
😘😘💕💕
Many thanks! Now the real work begins. 🥰
Thank you for the kind thoughts. We’re very excited and pretty overwhelmed at this point but everyone is totally committed to making it work.
Great news, Norman! Sounds like your mom is going to be pretty busy in the upcoming weeks!
Thanks-yes, she’s been running around in circles for months now and that likely won’t change in the near future but it’ll all be very worthwhile.
Hope to see some pictures of adoptable sheepies soon!
Thanks, I hope we can get all the behind the scenes red tape squared away soon so we can help sheepdogs in need.
All OES pups will rejoice in knowing how you are going to be helpful to find new homes for those that might need it.
Sorry that you had to close your shop, but sometimes one has to do what is right at that particular time..
Thank you! The new rescue is far more important than a couple of pennies made on the sale of cards. I’ll miss it but would rather focus our energies on the rescue where it will make a much larger impact for some lovely pupsters.
How exciting! What a worthwhile business!!! Sending positive thoughts to you and lots of patience!
Many thanks, Martha and Chester. We’re very excited at the chance to help other dogs out and knew it would be hard work when we committed to it. Luckily we have readers like you in our corner encouraging us.
WOW!!! THAT is BIG NEWS!! And I am so very proud of your Mum!! And proud to call her my friend! It’s probably more work than I can even imagine, but like Caren said, it will be soooo very rewarding!
As to the e-commerce shop, yes, it does make sense to shut it down sad as that thought may be after all these years. I always have loved the cards and other items she sold, but finances didn’t always allow me to spend on luxuries.
I hope you all have a great week; but Norman, you and Elsa have to make sure your Mum doesn’t work herself into exhaustion. Make sure she takes plenty of breaks!!
Thank you, Sue! Your friendship and support mean the world to us. I will still make cards for people, just won’t offer them for sale through the blog. You know, because I apparently don’t have enough to do every day. LOL
Wow, Norman, your Mom is involved in setting up a rescue! That is so totally great! BTW, tell (or ask) her to read the first part of the first sentence on the website. (I didn’t mean to “proof” it just jumped out at me.) I laughed at that meme, then realized the concept is so true of so many of us!
This is why she shouldn’t do posts from her phone. I’m doing a fundraising event but will have her fix her screw up. Thanks!
I absolutely cannot do posts from my phone, but know several who can and do. Heck, I have mistakes even when I do it from my laptop!
Boy do I know all about that! 😂
Great news about the rescue. It’s going to be a lot of work but so rewarding. The Producer served a number of years as a volunteer for a Boxer rescue group and loved the experience. Sorry about the e-shop Monika. Have a great week.
Thank you for the well wishes, John. Yes, starting a new rescue has so much to do before you can even start to find homes for deserving dogs. I’ve gotten a greater appreciation for folks who do it. As for the e-shop, it wasn’t ever going to be a money maker but I enjoy being creative. Unfortunately there’s only 24 hours a day and with setting up this new rescue, it made sense to shut it down to maximize those waking hours. I’ll still be creative, just won’t do it through WP.
😊
That is great news! Wishing you the best!
Thanks, Kate. It’s simultaneously very exciting and terrifying!
You will do great!
Hope springs eternal. Thankfully we have an amazing Board who are incredibly talented and committed.
YOU ROCK!! That is the best news ever!!! That is MAJOR hard work but will be so rewarding!!! As they say in the Jewish religion, it’s a MITZVAH!!!!!! xoxo
You’re too sweet. Thanks for the good wishes. We’re excited but also somewhat terrified but very fortunate there’s a great core group to make this rescue something quite pawsome for sheepdogs.
That is amazing news about the rescue! Sending all pawsitive vibes your way! I’ll be so interested on things as they unfold.
Sorry, you had to close our shop, but I do understand it. I closed down my publisher’s website a while back. The costs were just too outrageous compared to the few sales. I wish you much luck on all of your future endeavors, the rescue and just taking more time for yourself! Hugs to the pups!
Thanks for your ‘pawsitive vibes,’ Dorothy. It means so much knowing our readers are so supportive. That will go a long way as we work hard getting the rescue up and running. It can be rewarding to be a ‘Pet-trepreneur’ and if I devoted all my time to it, it might have made sense. But we all have lots of irons in the fire and we just want to make the biggest impact with our time. 💜💜💜
Congratulations Monika on this new venture. I bet Sam is “around” and thinking “Yesssss! I knew I could help her realise she could do this!” All the very best. Regards. Colin.
Many thanks for your well wishes. Yes, Sam is always with me in whatever I do and no doubt Norman thinks of him as an honore sheepdog. 😉
What a fantabulous huge scoop this is, Norman! Congratulations on your Mum and cohorts for doing what needed to be done. So happy for you all.
Many thanks Miss Dale. They’re very excited about this opportunity. And they’re working me very hard to help out. I was at a fundraiser and hospital event all day yesterday. Luckily having me there seems to make a difference so it’s a good thing, right? Today while Mum is catching up with paperwork, I’ll be napping…big time-I’m plum knackered from yesterday. 🥰
I just bet they are. And of course they want you there! You inspire them, no doubt. You definitely deserve the rest. You worked so very hard. Happy Valentine’s Day, handsome! (And, of course, to your Mum and sister!) 💖
Happy Valentine’s Day to you as well. We 💙 you!
Thank you! It is a mutual 💖
You are Pawsome for taking on starting dog rescue from scratch! What a great cause to be working on. You go, girl!
Maybe just a bit crazy, too. LOL Thanks for your always uplifting support. Have peeps like you behind us will help us provide fur-ever homes for deserving pups.
Hmmm…I made a post but it seemed to have disappeared… OK, Juan more time…
Great news about the new organization, Monika. I guess that officially makes you an Old Sheepdog Rescuer. Wait, I could have phrased that better. 😈 My vote is for Norm as the poster dog. It’s tough to make a go of it with a small scale e-shop so I understand about shutting it down but we’ll miss your entrepreneurialism and no doubt you’ll appreciate having a bit more time to devote to the new project.
No worries, your earlier post was here…probably just appeared hidden by the technology grinches (ISPP providers, WP, and gawd knows who else who conspire to anyone trying to provide content or products online). Thank you for your continued support. I’ll still use ‘free time’ to create cards for friends and family but it made sense to maximize available time for something that will actually show some positive progress. After shipping, credit cards fees, supplies, not to mention the time used to create the hand painted cards, there was miniscule to zilch profit, just something I enjoyed doing in my copious spare time.
What great news. I donated and then posted your link to Facebook. You made me smile.
Have a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the pups, a smooch to Norman and a big hug to you. ♥
Oh my gosh, THANK YOU SO MUCH, Sandee. The rescue greatly appreciates your support and we’re thrilled to call you a friend. Norman sends his furry appreciation too.
That’s great news, Monika! I guess you are officially an Old Sheepdog Rescuer. Wait, that could be phrased better. 😈 I’ll check out the website and be watching for new developments. I expect that Norm will be the poster dog, of course. Understand about the e-shop. It’s really tough to make a go those at a modest scale and life’s too short for nickel and dime-ing along but we’ll miss your entrepreneurialism anyway.
Trust me, the ‘old’ moniker is more than applicable! Thank you for your ongoing support-we are very grateful to have come across your blog and still miss sweet Max. 💙
What an effort it must be taking to get this wonderful group set up…..why make it difficult to do some good in the world! Super news though!
Sad about your mum’s shop….but with the economy as it is, people have less disposable income, and things are twsted in favour of the big guys.
Many thanks, Helen. I could never justify pricing original hand painted greeting cards for the time it took according to the market and any potential profit to sell them was eaten up the fees and shipping costs. It’s okay, at least now I can feel confident the time I spend on the rescue will actually amount to something positive.
Paw-sitively wonderful! Congrats!
Many thanks, Cristina! We appreciate your well wishes.
Congrats to all! So wonderful that you are taking your community service to another level. Here’s to lots of success and happy pups and people! 🎉